One of the main triglycerides in palm oil is tripalmitin. It contains three fatty acids with carbon designations of, [16:0]. Draw the structure of tripalmitin. Would you expect this molecule to be a solid or liquid at room temperature?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the structure of tripalmitin: Tripalmitin is a triglyceride composed of glycerol and three palmitic acid molecules. Palmitic acid is a saturated fatty acid with the formula C₁₆H₃₂O₂ (carbon designation [16:0], meaning 16 carbons and no double bonds).
2. Draw the glycerol backbone: Glycerol is a three-carbon molecule with hydroxyl groups (-OH) attached to each carbon. Represent this as CH₂OH-CHOH-CH₂OH.
3. Attach the fatty acids: Each hydroxyl group of glycerol reacts with the carboxyl group (-COOH) of palmitic acid to form an ester bond. Replace the -OH groups on glycerol with the palmitic acid chains, resulting in a structure where three palmitic acid chains are esterified to the glycerol backbone.
4. Analyze the physical state: Saturated fatty acids like palmitic acid have straight chains that allow tight packing. This tight packing increases intermolecular forces, such as van der Waals interactions, making tripalmitin likely to be a solid at room temperature.
5. Conclude the reasoning: Since tripalmitin contains only saturated fatty acids ([16:0]), its structure promotes tight packing and higher melting points, which supports the expectation that it is a solid at room temperature.

Key Concepts

Triglycerides

Triglycerides are a type of lipid formed from one glycerol molecule and three fatty acids. They serve as a major form of energy storage in the body and can be saturated or unsaturated, affecting their physical state. Saturated triglycerides, like tripalmitin, typically have higher melting points and are solid at room temperature.

Fatty Acid Structure

Fatty acids are long hydrocarbon chains with a carboxylic acid group at one end. The carbon designation, such as [16:0], indicates the number of carbon atoms and the number of double bonds present. In the case of tripalmitin, the '16:0' signifies that it has 16 carbon atoms and no double bonds, classifying it as a saturated fatty acid.

Physical State of Lipids

The physical state of lipids at room temperature is influenced by their saturation level. Saturated lipids, which have no double bonds, pack closely together, resulting in a solid state, while unsaturated lipids, with one or more double bonds, tend to be liquid. Therefore, tripalmitin, being a saturated triglyceride, is expected to be solid at room temperature.